Second Thoughts on Easter Drama…

Ok, I’m happy to report that I’ve figured out how to do the sign language for “We speak to Nations”. I really like the tempo of the song, and I think we’ll be able to pull it off.
(I’m still debating what to do with the part when the song says “…fall on your knees…” and we’re supposed to actually do that… It was painful the first couple of times I did it.)

Anyways, since I thought I was on a roll, I decided to look at the “Anthem Of Praise, and see if I could start memorizing the sign language for that.

No luck.

The first words are “Praise him” and I really cant figure out what the ladies are signing.
I’ve looked at it slowly, fast, full screen, small screen, and I still cant figure out the movement they make. Its too fast. And then, I thought of looking the word “Praise” up in the ASL dictionary, but the actual sign for praise doesn’t even look like the sign they are doing in the video. So then I tried Exalt, Glorify, and Worship, and they all don’t look nothing like what the ladies are doing.

So I’m stuck. And besides, looking at the whole thing, I think it just might be a little TOO complicated and fast for our ladies. (I’m not saying they cant do it, but they might need a little more practice.)

So… I found this other skit by the same drama team. Its a skit of a song called “Everything” by a music group called Lifehouse.

The skit was about a young girl, who meets God, but then gets pulled away from God by different people: a handsome young man who offers her a rose, some drunk friend of hers, and two stuck up snobs who make fun of her. After that you can see that she’s left all alone, and two hooded figures come out, and one of them gives her a gun.

Weeeeeelll….. she obviously has low self esteem, because she points it at her head, but at the last moment, she drops it, and tries to run to God (or Jesus) who is at the other end of the stage….
But all her friends, and the hooded figures get in her way, and try to stop her from getting to Jesus. They did a great job in this part, because you can actually see the poor girl struggling against the people. Its great.

Finally, the crowd just surrounds her, and starts beating her up. (at least, that’s what it looks like) Then, Jesus steps in, and for a few moments, they beat him up instead of her, (which i guess we can use for the whole “Easter” theme we’re trying to do…)

Then, Jesus stands up, and they (the baaaaaad crowd) fall, and Jesus takes the hand of the young girl, and leads her away.

Nice, huh?

I thought so too. So I went on my Itunes, and downloaded it.
Turns out that the group is not even categorized under “Christian” or “Gospel”
It was under the “Rock” Genre.

And after i paid for it, and listened to it….yeah, it has great lyrics, and soft music, but it completely goes a bit too crazy in the end.
I can just see the look i’m going to get from the Elders of the church, and even pastor if I play that song in church.

No matter how nice it is, or how right the song is for the skit, rock music is STILL
rock music. No way Jose!

So…. now i’m hunting for another, non-rock, hopefully spanish song I can do this skit with…. Any ideas anyone???

Here’s the link to the Skit with the original song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkH8Er5Sa9A&NR=1

Youth Choir song for Sunday

After looking online for a while, I was able to find this song, by the POW Choir in Texas. I also ordered their CD, and I can’t wait for it to arrive.

Anyhow, I thought this song was great, so I’m going to see if the Youth Choir can pick it up on our practice on Sunday. My goal with the Youth Choir is to be able to sing new songs with them, making them seem like “a breath of fresh air”.

Now I just hope enough youth show up, so there can actually BE a youth choir.
Ok. Well, here’s the song:

En Tu Presencia

Solo quiero estar en tu presencia
Y disfrutar de tu dulce amor
Yo quiero quedarme en tu presencia
Y por siempre sentir tu amor

Yo puedo sentire en mis manos
Por eso las alzare a ti
Yo puedo sentirte cada instante
Y por siempre to te adoro a ti
Yo puedo sentirte en mis huesos
En dada espacio que hay en mi

En tu presencia quiero estar

The song itself has a very easy melody, which I think will be easy enough for the Youth Choir to pick up. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

If you’re intrested in purchasing the POW choir’s CD, or for more information on them,
Visit  http://cdbaby.com/cd/powchoir 

L.L.

Thursday night, almost friday morning

Well, tonight’s youth service went well.
At least, i think it did. And I’m old enough to know that there will always be people that will criticize your work, but as long as i feel that i did a good job, I’m fine.

Of course, I’m not a professional, and yes, it could have been better. Still, practice makes perfect.

Right now, I’m just here, feeling kind of sleepy. Its been a long day, and I’m happy to report that I don’t have to work tomorrow. Hooray for me!!

I’m looking forward to tomorrows Drama Practice. I hope we get a good turn out of people.

Well… I better call it a night then

Good night.

Thursday is here…

Well, if you’ve read one of my previous blogs, you already know that i’m supposed to preach today for the Youth Service.
If you haven’t, well, now you know.

Im nervous, but i know that’s just the human in me. After all, who doesn’t get nervous?
As for what i’m going to talk about, I need to stop thinking about it.

I’ve written what i want to say about 3 times already, and today i’ve been surfing the web like crazy trying to think of something else to say. I need to stop, and just trust in God.

So that’s what i’m going to do. I’m not going to try to write, or re-write what i’ve written so far.
I’m just going to go with it, and put my faith in him, and not in me.

Youth Choir: Reviving The Tradition

Before we had our Director meeting at church, we where asked to think about what we wanted for our deparpartments. (i.e. fundraisers, events, outgoings, etc…)

One of the first things that came to my mind was the youth choir. The last time the youth choir actually sang at our church was back in…

Wow. I cant even remember. What i do remember was that we had sis. Alondra in charge of the youth choir, and after she left for Bible school, the youth choir just seemed to dissapear. that was about 4 years ago.

My main goal this year is to revive the tradition we once had. Although i’m not a parent yet, i believe its important to have our youth involved in some way at our church. Yes, we do have the Youth Services every Thursday, but not every youth participates in them. A youth choir would give them all the oportunity to participate. To feel like they belong to something. And best of all, it would keep them busy.  

A bored young person is likely to get into more trouble than a busy young person.

So… I’ve scheduled the youth choir to sing every last sunday of the month. I want to start a little slow, and as time goes by, start working with them more, and more. 
You know, as i think about it, i can feelt that we have so much potential within our youth. There’s so much we can do for the God. All we need to do is just tap into that potential, and BOOM! We can become a blessing to our congregation, to our community, and most importantly, to the work of God.

So far, i’ve had good feedback from some of the Youth. Thats great!

Lets see how our 1st practice in 4 years goes on Sunday….

Thursday Youth Service… (I’m nervous)

I’m a little nervous about Thursday’s Youth Service.
Usually, we have the usual: some youth testimonies, a special song, the praise service, and then one of our youth brings the Word of God to us.

And we’ve been doing this for a long time, so we should be used to it by now.

Still…. I was asked to actually do the preaching on Thursday.  Yes, you read correctly.

As the Director of Music and Drama, I’ve often been asked to sing a special song, or do a special skit before someone preaches, but i’ve never been told to actually DO the preaching.
Well, that’s not totally true. I did preach once before, but that was not just me, but 2 more young preachers as well. Still, on Thursday, its going to be just me. for the whole hour.

Still, i shouldn’t feel too nervous. I know that God’s with me, and if its his will i preach, then i will gladly do so. But as humans, we’re all bound to get a little nervous when we get our of “comfort zone”.

So…. In Jesus’ Name, its going to be a blessing. Besides, The bible says that i can do all things in his name. I just have to let him do the talking for me, and i’ll be fine.

As for what i’m going to talk about, well, i’m trying to pray as much as i can about it, to make sure i’m on the right track. Mainly, i just want to tell the Youth that they are precious, and important to God. Sometimes, as youth, we don’t really believe in ourselves, and we might think we’re not too important, or too valuable, but that’s not true.
We are precious in his eyes. God has a place in his heart for all of us.

If you read this, please pray for me. I want to be a vessel that God can use.

Thanks!

L.L.